Pye Chamberlayne: Here's a group of Kuna Indians on the coast of Panama dancing barefoot, shaking rattles, blowing flutes and wearing gold rings in their nose. They're greeting dictator Omar Torrijos, a group of Senators, including the influential Democratic leader Robert Bird. These Kunas, the smallest people in the world except for pygmies, voted against the canal treaties. They're a symbol of the diverse groups the Senator saw.
The high point of the trip was Torrijos' promise to the Senators to repeal repressive laws passed way back …
Translator: " … when we were all inexpert and we did not have the political maturity we have now."
Omar Torrijos: "(Foreign language.)"
Translator: "And now they're -- these are laws that constitute an insult to the national dignity."
Omar Torrijos: "(Foreign language.)"
Translator: "I admit this."
Pye Chamberlayne: This is another group of Kunas. Bird and the group of Senators were impressed. They came away more favorably disposed to the treaties, said the once-dismal prospects for the pacts have begun to improve.
Pye Chamberlayne for Recap '77.
